Marking device for seed-planters.



L. N. TODD. MARKING DEVIOE FOR SEED PLANTERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2,1910.

974,312, Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER N. TODD, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS.

MARKING DEVICE FOR SEED-PLANTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed November 3, 1909, Serial No. 526,132. Dividedand this application filed February 2, 1910. Serial No. 541,494.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER N. Tom), a citizen of the United States,residing at Canton, in the county of Fulton and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Marking Devices forSeed-Planters, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in markingdevices for seed planters and has for its object to provide a device ofthis character which is adapted to indicate the points at which the seedhills are deposited, said arms being automatically and simultaneouslyactuate with the seed dropping mechanism whereby the hills may bedeposited in regular parallel rows.

A further object resides in the provision of an adjustable markingdevice carried upon each end of a rock shaft mounted in the machineframe, the marking foot being .pivotally and yieldingly arranged uponthe outer end of the arm and adapted to cushion the contact thereof withthe ground and thus absorb the vibration.

A still further object is to provide a markingdevice of the abovecharacter of. a very simple construction and one wherein the markingfoot is arranged for easy and quick adjustment to accord with thevarious conditions of .the ground.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction and the combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of aplanting machine provided with my improved marking device; Fig. 2 is anenlarged perspective view of the device removed; Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a similar view taken onthe line 4-l of Fig. 1.

My invention is particularly devised with a view to its use inconnection with seed planting machines of that character shown anddescribed in my pending application for patent filed November 3, 1909,Serial Number 526,132. As therein shown a wheel supported main frame 5is employed, and a second frame 2& is transversely arranged andsupported beneath the forward end of said main frame. Upon thistransverse frame adjacent to its ends the usual seed boxes 25 arearranged and have suitable mechanism arranged in connection therewithwhich is adapted to be automatically actuated from the wheel shaft ofthe machine whereby the seed will be simultaneously dropped in hills todeposit the same in parallel rows. A rock shaft 23 is mounted in thetransverse frame 24: and extends beyond the opposite ends thereof. Thisshaft is rocked by the means for operating the seed dropping mechanismand in a manner specifically set forth in my application above referredto. It will, therefore, not be here set forth in detail as my presentinvention contemplates the use of various other means whereby the shaftmay be rocked to operate the marking arms.

In order to provide means whereby the parallelism of these rows may bemaintained after the machine has been turned, I provide the marking arms34 upon the opposite ends of the rock shaft 23. These arms are shown indetail in Fig. 2 and each comprises a cylindrical shank having arectangular portion 35. The cylindrical shank extends through a sleeve36 in the form of a T- coupling, which is disposed upon the rock shaftand secured thereon by the set screw 37 against independent rotativemovement. The rectangular or flattened portion of the shank is formedwith a plurality of openings 38. A marking foot 39 is carried upon thearm and is achustably mounted thereon. This marking foot is formed froma bar of metal bent to provide the right angular lower end 39. The upperportion of the foot is provided with a plurality of apertures 40. Anyone of these apertures is adapted to be brought into transversealinement with any one of the apertures 38 in the marking arm and toreceive therethrough a bolt 41 upon which a securing nut 42 is threaded.This securing nut, however, does not bind against the marking foot butallows of pivotal movement upon the end of the arm. A longitudinal bar43 is disposed upon the flattened end portion of the arm and is providedat one end with an elongated slot 14. A plate A5 is also secured to thearm and carries a pin or stud 46 in one end'wh'ich is disposed throughthe slot and has a head formed thereon to retain the bar 43 in position.The other end of this bar is extended at a right angle, as at 4'7, andis disposed upon the rear edge of the marking foot 39 to limit itspivotal movement in one direction. In order to cushion the contact ofthe lower end of the foot with the ground, a hanger 48 is secured to themarking arm and a rod 49 is movable therethrough and is secured at oneend to a bracket plate 50 which is secured to the foot 39. The free endof this rod has engaged thereon a nut 51 and a spring 52 is coiled aboutthe rod and has its ends engaged against a washer and the lower end ofthe hanger 18. Thus, as the marking foot contacts with the ground theshock which is imparted to the arm is absorbed to a large extent by thespring 52, thus obviating the liability of derangement of the variousparts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a marking devicefor corn or other seed planters which is of comparatively simpleconstruction and one which is practically indestructible in operation.The marking foot is permitted to have a certain degree of pivotalmovement upon the marking arm, thus obviating the liability of breakingthe lower end of the foot as it is drawn over the ground aftercontacting therewith in the forward movement of the machine. By simplyloosening the nut on the stud 46, the bar 43 may be readily adjustedupon the end of the marking arm to allow of a greater or less extent ofsuch pivotal movement as may be found most desirable under differentconditions.

WVhile I have specifically shown and described what I believe to be thepreferable embodiment of the invention, I would have it understood thatthe same is susceptible of a great many minor modifications withoutmaterially departing from the essential features or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the same.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a shank, a bar longitudinallymovable there on, a marking foot pivotally secured to said shank, theend of said bar being engaged with the rearward edge of said foot tolimit its pivotal movement in one direction and means for cushioning thecontact of the foot with the ground.

2. A device of the character described comprising a shank, alongitudinally adjustable bar carried by said shank, a marking footpivotally secured on the rear end of the shank, the rear end of said barbeing engaged over the edge of said foot, means for adjusting saidmarking foot upon the shank, a hanger depending from the shank and meanscarried by the marking foot movably engaged with said hanger forcushioning the contact of the foot with the ground.

3. A device of the character described comprising a shank, a markingfoot pivotally secured to the rear end of said shank, a longitudinallymovable bar adjustably arranged upon said shank and having its rear endengaged over the edge of the marking foot, means for securing the bar inits adjusted position, means for adjusting the marking foot on theshank, a hanger secured to the shank and means carried by the markingfoot movably engaged with the hanger for cushioning the contact of thefoot with the ground.

4:. A device of the character described comprising a shank, a barmovably arranged upon the rear end of said shank, means for securingsaid bar against movement, a marking foot pivotally secured on the rearend of the shank, the extremity of said bar being engaged over the edgeof the marking foot, a hanger secured to the shank, a rearwardlyextending rod carried by the marking foot and movable in said hanger andmeans arranged on said rod to cushion the impact of the foot with theground.

5. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical shankhaving a flattened rear portion, a bar having a slot in one end movablymounted on said shank, a plate carried by said shank having a set screwdisposed through the slot in said bar and adapted to secure the same inits adjusted position, a. marking foot pivotally secured to the rear endof said shank, said shank and marking foot having a longitudinal seriesof openings adapted to be registered, a pivot bolt extending through thealined openings having a nut engaged upon its ends, whereby sald marklngfoot may be adjusted upon the shank, a hanger secured to the shank, arearwardly extending rod carried by the marking foot movable in saidhanger, a nut engaged upon the extremity of said rod, and a springarranged upon said rod between the nut and the hanger adapted to cushionthe impact of the foot with the ground.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with awheeled frame, of a rock shaft transversely mounted therein, means foractuating said rock shaft, a marking arm adjustably mounted in a sleeveon each end of said shaft, a marking foot pivotally carried on the rearend of said arm, means for limiting the pivotal movementof said foot andmeans for cushioning the contact of the foot with the ground.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with awheeled frame, of a transversely arranged rock shaft journaled therein,a marking arm longitudinally adjustable in a sleeve secured on each endof said shaft, a markin foot carried on the rear end of said shaft anddisposed at an angle thereto, said foot being vertically adjustable andpivotally mounted, a late carried by said arm engaged with sai markingfoot and adapted to limit its pivotal movement, and means for cushioningthe impact of the foot with the ground.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with awheeled frame, of a rock shaft transversely arranged in the forward endof said frame, a marking arm longitudinally adjustable in sleevessecured to each end of said shaft, the outer end of each ofsaid armsbeing flattened and provided with a plurality of openings therein, amarking foot disposed on said arm at an angle thereto and having avertical series of openings adapted to be brought into alinement withthe openings in the foot, a bolt extending therethrough having a nut onone end to pivotally secure the foot to the arm, a plate carried by saidarm having limited longitudinal movement thereon, the rear end of saidplate being engaged with the foot to limit its pivotal movement, a rodsecured to said foot extending rearwardly thereof, a hanger secured tothe foot, said rod being movably ,disposed therethrough, and a springarranged upon said rod between its outer end and the hanger adapted tocushion the impact of the foot with the ground.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with awheeled frame, of a transversely arranged rock shaft journaled in saidframe, an adjustable marking arm disposed through a sleeve secured toeach end of said shaft, a marking foot pivoted on the outer end of saidarm and vertically adjustable, a plate longitudinally movable upon saidarm engaged at one end with said foot to limit its pivotal movement, abracket plate secured to said foot, a rod secured to said plate andextending rearwardly thereof, a hanger secured to the arm having anaperture in its lower end, said rod being disposed therethrough, and aspiral spring disposed about said rod between a washer carried on theouter end thereof and said hanger to cushion the impact of the foot withthe ground.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

LUTHER N. TODD.

Witnesses H. O. MORAN, C. E. WEED.

